Arlanxeo plans multi-million-euro expansion of French, Brazilian facilities

Arlanxeo said that it is strengthening its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of synthetic rubber.

Over the next three years, Arlanxeo will invest euro mid-double-digit million to modernize its production sites in Triunfo, Brazil and La Wantzenau, France. 

Triunfo facility in Brazil

In Brazil Arlanxeo is investing in its facility in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, to make the production of polybutadiene rubber (PBR) more flexible. Currently, emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR), which is mainly used in car and truck tires, is produced there.

As a result of the upgrade, the company will also be able to produce the more advanced PBR types Nd-BR (neodymium butadiene rubber) and lithium butadiene rubber (Li-BR) for tire and non-tire applications in Triunfo in the second half of 2020. This follows the growing need of the local tire manufacturers for high performance tires.

At the same time, Arlanxeo is relocating part of its existing E-SBR production in Triunfo to its facility in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, where E-SBR is already produced. This should allow for better economics going forward. 

Polybutadiene rubbers under the Arlanxeo brand name Buna are primarily used in the tread and sidewalls of tires.

In addition to tires, they are also used to modify plastics in the production of HIPS (high impact polystyrene) for injection moulding applications. Other areas of application include golf balls, running shoes, and conveyor belts. 

Read more: Arlanxeo plans multi-million-euro expansion of French, Brazilian facilities

Brenntag to acquire CCC’s chemical distribution business

Brenntag AG has signed an agreement with Canada Colors and Chemicals Ltd to acquire the company’s chemicals distribution business (CCC).

Headquartered in Toronto, CCC offers a full-line portfolio with operations in the main industrial areas across all of Canada. CCC serves a highly diversified customer base in industries such as life sciences, water treatment, coatings, construction, energy and mining.

CCC maintains well-invested, scalable and flexible facilities across Canada to store, blend and package industrial and specialty chemicals and products. Its Life Science offer includes a state-of-the-art ingredients application lab, several own formulations and a highly qualified technical staff. CCC’s blending capabilities and formulation expertise in the oil & gas business opens interesting synergetic business opportunities with Brenntag Canada’s Oil & Gas operations. In addition, the company’s own truck fleet will extend Brenntag’s value-added service offering.

“With the acquisition of CCC, Brenntag strengthens its focus and specialties capabilities in both Life Science and Material Science. CCC’s broad positioning and extensive product and service portfolio perfectly complement Brenntag’s offer to our customers and suppliers,” said Steven Holland, CEO of Brenntag Group.

Read more: Brenntag to acquire CCC’s chemical distribution business

BP buys ConocoPhillips’ Clair field share; sells Alaska Kuparuk stake

BP plc has entered into agreements with ConocoPhillips that will significantly increase its holding in the Clair field, a core asset of BP’s North Sea business in the UK, while also selling its non-operating interest in the Kuparuk and satellite oilfields in Alaska.

BP has entered into an agreement to purchase from ConocoPhillips a 16.5 percent interest in the BP-operated Clair field, west of Shetland in the UK, buying a ConocoPhillips subsidiary that will hold this interest in the field. As a result, BP will hold a 45.1 percent interest in Clair and ConocoPhillips will retain a 7.5 percent interest.

Separately BP has entered into agreements to sell to ConocoPhillips BP’s entire 39.2 percent interest in the Greater Kuparuk Area on the North Slope of Alaska as well as BP’s holding in the Kuparuk Transportation Company.

The transactions are anticipated to complete in 2018.

The giant Clair field west of Shetland has a complex fractured reservoir estimated to have had more than 7 billion barrels of hydrocarbons originally in place. The field is operated by BP which currently holds a 28.6 percent interest. Production from Clair’s first phase of development began in 2005 and the field produced an average of 21,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boed) in 2017. A major second development phase, Clair Ridge, is expected to start production later this year with production capacity of 120,000 boed. Appraisal has also identified potential for future stages of development of Clair.

The Greater Kuparuk Area is operated by ConocoPhillips Alaska. The Greater Kuparuk Area includes the Kuparuk oilfield and the satellite fields of Tarn, Tabasco, Meltwater and West Sak. In 2017, the Greater Kuparuk Area had average daily gross oil production of approximately 108,000 barrels a day. The agreement will also include BP’s interest in the Kuparuk pipeline, which transports oil from the Greater Kuparuk Area to the inlet of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) at Pump Station 1.

Read more: BP buys ConocoPhillips’ Clair field share; sells Alaska Kuparuk stake

AkzoNobel to increase of chloromethanes capacity in Germany

AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has started design work for a second expansion of chloromethanes capacity at its site in Frankfurt, Germany. The project will take place in several steps over the next five years and will raise total capacity by up to 50 percent, supporting growth of customers that use chloromethanes in the manufacture of products such as pharmaceuticals.

The company recently completed an initial chloromethanes expansion that increased capacity for the chloromethanes methylene chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. The new expansion phase will begin with an increase in capacity for methyl chloride, to be completed in 2020. Further investments are also planned to improve supply reliability and to expand chlorine production, the key raw material for chloromethanes.

Chloromethanes are used as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, refrigerants, silicone polymers, and fluoropolymers, and are important raw materials for the construction and automotive industries, water treatment, cookware, and electronics. AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has a leading position in the European chloromethanes market.

Read more: AkzoNobel to increase of chloromethanes capacity in Germany

BASF acquires 100 pc shares in two 3D printing company

BASF New Business GmbH (BNB) has acquired all the shares of Advanc3D Materials GmbH in Hamburg and Setup Performance SAS in Lyon.

Advanc3D Materials offers advanced, tailor-made plastic powders and formulations for selective laser sintering (SLS) together with process knowhow. Setup Performance, which operates a production site in Lyon, is Advanc3D Materials’ most important partner in the development and manufacture of SLS materials. BNB is integrating both companies into its subsidiary BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH (B3DPS). The acquisition is an important step forward for BASF in its expansion in the field of 3D printing.

Advanc3D Materials is already well established in the market, offering a wide range of products as well as comprehensive market and application expertise. A consistent, finely ground powder, UV stabilizer additions and good free flow are among the elements required to enable the materials to be used in 3D printing. Setup Performance is Advanc3D’s contract manufacturer and development partner. The company’s product & process development and production site in Lyon is noted for its high efficiency and short development cycles for new products.

Read more: BASF acquires 100 pc shares in two 3D printing company

Sanitized forms new company for antimicrobial paints & coatings

Sanitized AG is combining together its longstanding expertise in the area of antimicrobials for paints and coatings into a single company, the newly founded Sanitized Preservation AG.

David Tierney, previously global business director, coatings at Lonza AG, will be taking over the management of the entity as well as the expansion of global business relations as CEO.

Antimicrobial protection for paints and coatings – during production, storage and when in use – in accordance with the current regulatory provisions: This is exactly what the newly founded Sanitized Preservation AG is focusing its efforts on. In-can and dry film preservation for paints will be offered for the first time, along with hygiene audits for production plants, in order to provide all-round support for hygiene issues in the factory.

Read more: Sanitized forms new company for antimicrobial paints & coatings

ExxonMobil, Co-venturers announce progress in Rovuma LNG marketing

ExxonMobil Corporation and Eni said that marketing efforts are underway for the Rovuma LNG project, which will produce, liquefy and sell natural gas from the gas fields of the Area 4 block offshore Mozambique.

Senior management representatives of the co-venture parties (ExxonMobil, Eni, CNODC, ENH, Kogas and Galp) met at the World Gas Conference to affirm marketing progress.

The initial phase of the Rovuma LNG project will develop the Mamba reservoirs in Area 4 and help deliver reliable, affordable energy to customers and create long-term economic value for the people of Mozambique and the project’s co-venturers.

ExxonMobil Mocambique Limitada will lead construction and operation of liquefaction trains and related onshore facilities for the Rovuma LNG project, while Eni Rovuma Basin will lead upstream developments and operations. In parallel to the marketing, the co-venturers are also advancing financing activities and working with the government of Mozambique to progress approval of the project.

Read more: ExxonMobil, Co-venturers announce progress in Rovuma LNG marketing